Catharanthus plant named ‘Sunnichilave’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Catharanthus  plant named ‘Sunnichilave’, characterized by its trailing plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; relatively large lavender-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Catharanthus roseus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNNICHILAVE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Catharanthus plant,botanically known as Catharanthus roseus and hereinafter referred to bythe name ‘Sunnichilave’.

The new Catharanthus plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective ofthe breeding program is to develop new freely branching and vigorousCatharanthus plants with trailing plant habit and numerous attractiveflowers.

The new Catharanthus plant originated from a cross-pollination conductedby the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in June, 2006 of aproprietary selection of Catharanthus roseus identified as code numberCasp5-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Catharanthus roseus identified as code number 03-20-1, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Catharanthus plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in April, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Catharanthus plant by vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga,Japan since April, 2007 has shown that the unique features of this newCatharanthus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Catharanthus have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sunnichilave’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Sunnichilave’ as a new and distinctCatharanthus plant:

-   -   1. Trailing plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely basal branching habit.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Long flowering period.    -   6. Relatively large lavender-colored flowers.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Catharanthus can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Catharanthus differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Catharanthus are more trailing than and not        as upright as plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Catharanthus and the female parent        selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent        selection have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Catharanthus can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Catharanthus differ primarily fromplants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Catharanthus and the male parent selection        differ in lateral branch color as plants of the male parent        selection have green-colored lateral branches.    -   2. Plants of the new Catharanthus and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Catharanthus can be compared to plants of theCatharanthus roseus ‘Sunnichipink’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.20,523. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga,Japan, plants of the new Catharanthus differed from plants of‘Sunnichipink’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Catharanthus were taller than plants of        ‘Sunnichipink’.    -   2. Plants of the new Catharanthus had longer internodes than        plants of ‘Sunnichipink’.    -   3. Plants of the new Catharanthus and ‘Sunnichipink’ differed in        lateral branch color as plants of ‘Sunnichipink’ have        green-colored lateral branches.    -   4. Plants of the new Catharanthus had larger leaves with longer        petioles than plants of ‘Sunnichipink’.    -   5. Flowers of plants of the new Catharanthus were round in        overall shape whereas flowers of plants of ‘Sunnichipink’ were        star-shaped.    -   6. Plants of the new Catharanthus had smaller flowers than        plants of ‘Sunnichipink’.    -   7. Plants of the new Catharanthus and ‘Sunnichipink’ differed in        flower color as plants of ‘Sunnichipink’ had large light red        purple-colored flowers with darker red purple-colored centers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Catharanthus plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Catharanthus plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunnichilave’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Sunnichilave’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the winter in 15-cm containersin a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan andunder cultural practices typical of commercial production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C. and nighttemperatures averaged 15° C. Plants were four months old when thedescription and photographs were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Catharanthus roseus ‘Sunnichilave’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Catharanthus roseus identified as code number Casp5-1, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Catharanthus roseus identified as code number 03-20-1, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at 30° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About five            weeks at 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About six            weeks at 25° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Trailing plant habit; freely basal            branching habit with numerous lateral branches developing            per plant; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 12 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 36.8 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 34.1 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3.1 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 2.1 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly.        -   Texture.—Sparsely pubescent.        -   Color.—Close to 60A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 7.1 cm.        -   Width.—About 3.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Narrowly elliptic.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Sparsely pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144A. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 138A; venation,            close to 144D. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 143B; venation, close to 144D.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1.1 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent.            Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 61B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single round salverform            flowers arising from upper leaf axils; freely flowering            habit with usually about 13 flowers developing per plant;            flowers face upright or outwardly. Fragrance: None detected.        -   Flowering habit.—Plants begin flowering about two to three            weeks after planting; long flowering period, in the garden,            plants flower continuously from the early summer to late            autumn in Japan;        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about two to three            days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4.1 cm.        -   Flower length (depth).—About 3.9 cm.        -   Tube length.—About 2.9 cm.        -   Tube diameter, at the base.—About 1.4 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.7 cm. Diameter: About 5.3 mm.            Shape: Cylindrical. Color: Close to 62D.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals in a single whorl fused at            the base into a tube. Petal length from throat: About            1.9 cm. Petal width: About 2 cm. Petal shape: Broadly            obovate. Petal apex: Mucronate. Petal margin: Entire;            slightly undulate. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening            and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 75B; towards the            throat, close to NN155B. Petal, when opening and fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 76D. Throat: Close to 145C.            Tube: Close to 150C.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped tubular calyx with five            sepals fused towards the base. Sepal length: About 4.1 mm.            Sepal width: About 1.1 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal            apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent. Color, immature and            mature, upper surface: Close to 143B. Color, immature and            mature, lower surface: Close to 143B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.1 mm. Diameter: About 1.7 mm.            Angle: Upright to outwardly. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 145B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.            Stamen length: About 3.5 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly            elliptic. Anther size: About 1.5 mm by 3.3 mm. Anther color:            Close to 9D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to            10D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About            2.5 cm. Style color: Close to 145C. Stigma shape:            Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to 145A. Ovary            color: Close to 145A. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit            development have not been observed on plants of the new            Catharanthus.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Catharanthus have been    observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain    and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. to 40° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Catharanthus have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Catharanthus plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Catharanthus plant named‘Sunnichilave’ as illustrated and described.